'Falling Skies' launches with 420k on FX

Steven Spielberg's Falling Skies premiered with more than 400k on Tuesday evening, while the Luther finale scooped the highest rating of the current series, according to the latest audience data.

New science fiction thriller Falling Skies, executive produced by movie legend Spielberg, launched on the FX channel with 423k (1.3%) in the 9pm hour.

Luther, starring Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson, concluded with 5.74m (24.8%) on BBC One from 9pm, up on the series two debut rating. The hard-hitting BBC drama was also way too strong for Sextuplets: The Little Lambs in the 9pm hour, which healed 3.04m (13.2%) on ITV1 and 201k (1.1%) on +1.

Over at BBC Two, Coast served up 1.32m (6.5%) in the 7pm hour, before Restoration Home grabbed 2.1m (9.7%) from 8pm and 112k (0.5%) on BBC HD. Should I Test My Genes: The Price of Life captivated 930k (4%) from 9pm and Jack Dee's Lead Balloon amused 880k (4.4%) from 10pm.

Four Rooms mustered 1.48m (6.8%) on Channel 4 in the 8pm hour and 176k (0.8%) on +1. Series three of Undercover Boss premiered with 2.59m (11.2%) from 9pm and 358k (2%) an hour later. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA cooked up 1.58m (8.7%) from 10pm, along with 258k (2.7%) on +1.

Channel 5's Mexican Food Made Easy was watched by 537k (2.6%) from 7.30pm, before Monster Moves built 941k (4.4%). A double-bill of CSI: All Time Top Ten brought in 917k (4%) and 953k (5.2%) from 9pm.

Overall, BBC One dominated primetime with 24.8% against ITV1's 14.3% (+1: 0.5%). Channel 4 came in third place with 7.6% (+1:1.1%), followed by BBC Two's 6.4% and Channel 5's 3.8%.